Immigration stance may be what turns many red states blue says LINDA CHAVEZ

The Dallas Morning News ^ | October 8, 2007 | Linda Chavez

[Clintonfatigued]

Republicans need all the votes they can get next November if they are to have any hope of retaining the White House and winning back control of Congress. But one group of voters – among whom the GOP has gained considerable ground over the last few elections – now seems about to slip away, perhaps permanently.

Hispanic voters are poised to turn several red states blue come 2008, virtually guaranteeing a Democratic presidential victory and a pickup in congressional seats as well, according to a new analysis of Hispanic voting behavior. "Border Wars: The Impact of Immigration on the Latino Vote," released by the conservative Americas Majority Foundation, demonstrates that congressional Republicans' ham-handed approach to immigration will cost them dearly at the polls.

[End Times Crusader]

No, it will be the fault of the anti-Hispanic jihadists who are doing their best to alienate Hispanics from the party. I’m even beginning to wonder if some are really dim agent provocateurs sent in to sow discord.

[End Times Crusader]

You act as if the two are mutually exclusive.

[piytar]

Actually that word means worse than that. To call it a fighting word is an understatement. Use that word in Mexico with someone you don’t know, and a beat down is the least you can expect. Frankly, under the TOS of FR, any post with that word should be deleted. (Incidentally, I agree with the sentiment of the post, but such language does not belong here.)

[End Times Crusader]

FR sounds more and more like DU, as far as the tone and language.

I don't think that is just a coincidence.

[Will88]

“FR sounds more and more like DU, as far as the tone and language.

I don’t think that is just a coincidence.”

If so, it would be just as accurate to say FR is beginning to sound a lot like Linda Chavez sounded last summer. Some pretty cheap shots she took at any who didn’t agree with here on amnesty.

[Soul Seeker]

Oh, swell, Haven’t heard from this race baiter in awhile. She still hasn’t really apologized for the garbage she spewed before during the amnesty battle.

[End Times Crusader]

The anti-Hispanic rhetoric of the anti-immigrant extremists will turn the election over to the liberals. Why would Hispanics vote for a party that tolerates such hateful language from its members?

[bannie]

Does anyone agree that people should be able to shove their way ahead of others in any line?

The illegals rudely do just that.

[capt. norm]

Why would Hispanics vote for a party that tolerates such hateful language from its members?

Hateful language? Examples please.

You've been spending time on some dipstick forum like DU.

[hinckley buzzard]

Chavez really outed herself last summer when she went berserk on the border security issue. Called all of us a bunch of nativist racists blah blah blah. I heard her on Laura Ingraham and it was an embarrassment. As one who has ridden her ethnicity to wealth and power she ought to have the decency to shut up and count her blessings.

And no I don't believe the gist of her case either. Most Hispanic Americans are smarter than she wants us to believe.

[piytar]

I agree with the sentiment, but I’d like to see FR keep the debate and language at a level above that of DU or KOS, although to be fair I’ve missed the mark many times (and been deleted once) myself...

[End Times Crusader]

It is bordering on outright treason if you ask me.

You people sure throw that word around a lot. Take care that you don't overuse it to the point it no longer means anything.

[Soul Seeker]

Tell that to McCaskill-D-Missouri and the other handful of DEMOCRATS that we couldn’t have killed amnesty without.

They don’t appear too cocerned that they sound “anti-Hispanic”, which by your definition I conclude must mean anyone that thinks we should have borders and only accept people that come through LEGALLY regardless of race, religion etc..

And, my my. It sure is a coincidence after Hillary Clinton announces she favors driver’s licenses for illegals that a few weeks later a “sure thing” because a heated battle with Obama and a more uncertain nomination for herself. One might almost think the way everyone who embraces amnesty faces collapsing polling numbers LIKE Bush, McCain, and now Hillary would indicate it’s suicidal to do anything BUT embrace enforcement of our laws and borders.

I’m sure you know this though, just as Linda knows it. You’re just too committed to disolving our borders to give a damn how unpopular your position is with 80% of Americans. That and you hate us for not falling for the race baiting that usually succeeds in shutting people up, but not anymore. Not on this issue.

[Elyse]

But one group of voters – among whom the GOP has gained considerable ground over the last few elections – now seems about to slip away, perhaps permanently.

I think immigration is the key deal breaker in the coming election, but one thing that I think is being underestimated is the number of Democrats and Democrat leaners that are strongly against illegal immigration. If we run a candidate that is strongly against illegal immigration, I think we could walk away with a large block of the union members and Black votes that the Democrats think they have in the bag.

[Impugn]

If this is in any way true, it is ultimately the Republican's fault.

EVERY time some jackass liberal - purposely or not - links illegal immigration with lawful immigration, they should be opposed with superior and opposite force.

Conservatives fail at this all too frequently. Another example is when we fail to enforce the separation of "stem cell research" from "embryonic stem cell research" and, further, "federally funded embryonic stem cell research".

I'm tired of it. I always figured that immigrants that went through the whole trouble to get here legally would not be in the corner of the criminals getting here illegally. I hope that I am still right - in spite of the liberals and MSM's efforts to change that.

[hinckley buzzard]

the average undereducated Spanish-speaking blue collar worker isn’t going to go there.

Why not? I have never understood the virtue of just writing off a growing segment of the electorate. We don't have to collude with illegals to make headway at least, with the hispanic voter. Sure we will never convert the la Raza crowd but that's no reason not to carry a message of respect for family, life, and law into the Spanish-speaking community. Guaranteed, the 'rats will be there, selling their snake oil, and they don't even like Hispanics.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thank you, as always, for your input.

[Amalie]

The party changed direction after much groundwork was layed by Reagan, GHWB and GWB. They new what it would take to beat the Dem's and both opened up the big tent Republican party. They all three took heat from the base and Conservative writers for it.

I agree with you; I am sure this is why Rove and Bush were trying so hard to preemptively deal with this. This is also one reason why I believe Mike Huckabee can win the election but few others can. Tactical errors are very dangerous this time around; the GOP will alienate this group of voters to their utmost and likely permanent failure if we make this issue soundbites of anger. Unless the middle class starts marrying early and having five kids each, the Hispanic middle is the future, either as Democrats or Republicans. Flame away, but please use facts to prove that my statement on birthrates is wrong. Good luck.

Any GOP party plank should note the requirement to secure the border, period, but primarily for security reasons. Then we need to start figuring out how to KNOW who is here (which would have also been solved by the immigration bill). Chose hate; get NOTHING you want. If your candidate cannot address the Hispanic community, he's toast. Or this post just more wasted time...

[End Times Crusader]

If your anti-immigrant stance is so popular with Americans, the why are Hunter and Tancredo doing so poorly in the polls? The two most extreme candidates on the immigration issue can’t even combine for 5%.